Whitsunday Region

Whitsunday Region Queensland
Location within Queensland
Population	34,765 (2010)
• Density	1.456876/km2 (3.77329/sq mi)
Established	2008
Area	23,862.7 km2 (9,213.4 sq mi)
Mayor	Andrew Willcox
Council seat	Proserpine
Region	North Queensland
State electorate(s)	Whitsunday Burdekin
Federal Division(s)	Dawson, Capricornia
File:Whitsunday regional council logo.svg
Website	Whitsunday Region
LGAs around Whitsunday Region: Burdekin Coral Sea Coral Sea Charters Towers Whitsunday Region Coral Sea Isaac Isaac Mackay

The Whitsunday Region is a local government area located in North Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by two previous local government areas with a history extending back to the establishment of regional local government in Queensland in 1879.

It has an estimated operating budget of A$48.8m.

History

The Whitsunday Region was previously administered as two separate local government areas: the Shire of Bowen and the Shire of Whitsunday.

The Bowen Municipality was constituted on 7 August 1863 under the Municipalities Act 1858 (a piece of New South Wales legislation inherited by Queensland at its separation four years earlier). On 11 November 1879, the Wangaratta Division was created as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Wangaratta became a shire and Bowen became a town on 31 March 1903.

On 19 January 1910, the Shire of Proserpine was excised from Wangaratta. With the growth of tourism in the Whitsunday Islands and the Great Barrier Reef, it was renamed on 18 February 1989.

On 2 April 1960, the Town of Bowen was abolished, and merged into the Shire of Wangaratta, which was renamed Bowen.

In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the two areas amalgamate. It believed that the merger would enhance the regional planning necessary to manage its part of the Reef and improve service delivery, quality of governance and economies of scale. Both councils opposed amalgamation, although amalgamation with each other was the preferred option of each if forced to choose. On 15 March 2008, the Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.

Wards

The council is split into six divisions, each returning one councillor, plus a mayor.

Towns and localities

• Bowen
• Collinsville
• Proserpine

Airlie Beach Andromache Binbee Bogie Brandy Creek Breadalbane Brisk Bay Cannon Valley Cannonvale Cape Conway Cape Gloucester Conway Conway Beach Crystal Brook Daydream Island Dingo Beach Dittmer Flametree Foxdale Glen Isla

Gloucester Island Goorganga Creek Goorganga Plains Gregory River Gumlu Gunyarra Guthalungra Hamilton Island Hamilton Plains Hayman Island Hideaway Bay Inveroona Jubilee Pocket Kelsey Creek Laguna Quays Lake Proserpine Lethebrook Mandalay Merinda Mount Coolon Mount Julian

Mount Marlow Mount Pluto Mount Rooper Mount Wyatt Myrtlevale Newlands Palm Grove Pauls Pocket Preston Queens Beach Riordanvale Scottville Shute Harbour Silver Creek Springlands Strathdickie Sugarloaf Thoopara Wilson Beach Woodwark

Population

The populations given relate to the component entities prior to 2008. The next census, due in 2011, will be the first for the new Region.

Year	Population (Total)	(Bowen)	(Whitsunday)
1933	11,477	7,543	3,934
1947	11,700	8,083	3,617
1954	13,094	8,518	4,576
1961	14,604	9,491	5,113
1966	15,616	9,342	6,274
1971	16,651	10,231	6,420
1976	19,038	11,292	7,746
1981	24,478	13,645	10,833
1986	25,945	14,364	11,581
1991	29,388	14,161	15,227
1996	31,202	14,411	16,791
2001	32,021	13,698	18,323
2006	36,158	14,625	21,533

Mayors

2008–2012: Mike Brunker

2012–2016: Jennifer Whitney

2016–: Andrew Willcox

See also

• Whitsunday